Cabbie killed, 1 other wounded by stray bullets near Maywood bus stop

Rosemary SobolTribune reporter

A cab driver was killed and a 68-year-old woman waiting for a bus was wounded when shots rang out in the middle of the afternoon hitting both people who authorities said were “innocent bystanders’’ Saturday in Maywood.

About 12:25 p.m., Cordoba was waiting for a fare and was alone inside the cab at 19th Avenue and St. Charles Road when someone opened fire. At least one bullet pierced the vehicle and struck him in the left side of the head, according to village of Maywood spokesman Larry Shapiro.

“I don’t know if he was flagged down or if he was waiting for someone coming out of an apartment,’’ Shapiro said. Cordoba worked for People Cab company and he was not robbed.

Meanwhile, a 68-year-old woman who lives about two blocks from the shooting scene was standing outside waiting for a Pace bus when the bullets hit her also. “She was shot in the back and the bullet that struck her was lodged in her spinal cord,’’ Shapiro said.

She was rushed to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. Sunday night she was still recovering.

“Her prognosis is pretty good in terms of survival and of her not being paralyzed,’’ Shapiro said.

No one else was hurt.

The victims were “clearly’’ not the targets because video surveillance showed the shooter or shooters continuing to run after Cordoba and the woman were shot.

“They were still trying to shoot at somebody else,’’ Shapiro said.

Shapiro declined to say how many suspects are being sought.

People Cab dispatcher Tiana Scruggs said she knew him as cab driver #359 and was familiar with his voice. She was not working when the incident occurred and was told he was struck by a stray bullet.

“It’s a sad thing,’’ Scruggs said. “I worked with him plenty of times and I heard he had a big family and I am very sorry for their loss.’’

Scruggs said the dispatcher who was on duty yesterday afternoon was shaken up after hearing about the shooting. “She’s the last person who was talking to him,’’ Scruggs said.

Shapiro said the slaying happened in a residential neighborhood.

“They were innocent bystanders,’’ Shapiro said of the victims. "They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.''

David Scott, vice president for the company, said Cordoba was a "very good guy" who was just trying to earn a living. He had driven for the company for eight years, he said. Company officials were trying to find the man's family.

"It's very traumatic for me," said Scott. "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time."